REMINISCENCES OF THE SPORTING WORLD.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19854, 24 January 1920, Page 8

REMINISCENCES OF THE SPORTING WORLD.

“JOHNNY” FOWKE TALKS OF CRICKET, MEMORABLE MATCHES AND HUMOROUS INCIDENTS. PLAYERS OF THE PAST. ' (Specially written for tho “Star.”)

“ There is one thing which I hope these reminiscences will accomplish,” said Mr Fowke to the “Star” man, “ and that is that they will instil into the rising generation a knowledge of tho doings of tho old-time cricketers who built up the game in tho Dominion, and induce them to emulate those deeds. I. must tell you candidly that I think that cricket locally is on the wane. Thera does not seem to be anything like tho same keenness among older players—in tho senior teams especially there is a great patchiness. However, on tho present occasion I am not out to deliver a homily, although ah some future date I nay be prompted to do so. Now let us get on with the talk of tho old-timers. DROLL YORKSHIREMEN. “I well remember tho match between the English team and Canterbury at Lancaster Park, in which George Ulyett and Billy Bates worn members of the English team. Ulyett, who was one of the finest bats in England, and spoke in the broad Yorkshire dialect, was batting so solidly that it looked as if ho would stay in for a week. After trying all our star bowlers without effect W. E. Leach was put on with his underhand grubbers. If there is one thing a wicketkeeper dislikes it is these daisy-cutters. However, when Ulyett saw the first ball coming, he sailed out to hit Leach for gix. He missed the ball and so did 1 behind the wickets. When Ulyett reached bis crease once more ho said to mo, with a grin: “Ah, lad I beat thee that time.” Tho refrain in the policeman’s song in the 1 Pirates of Penzance ’ fittingly expressed my feelings at the moment— My feelings with difficulty I could smother When wiokotkceping duty’s to bo done; And, taking one consideration with another, A wicketkeeper’s lot is not a happy one. A PATIENT INNINGS 1 “I got no end of barrack at missing {mch an easy hall and letting off such a famous batsman. 'When it cam© to our turn to strike in the first innings I batted against the Englishmen for threequa'rters of an hour for tho large score of 3 nob out. Naturally I was put iu first for the second innings, when Billy Bates, another Yorkshiremau, bonded mo tho first ball with a nice off break and remarked ns I left the wickets ; ‘ Ah lad, that wor a good un’ .* Talking of Bates reminds me what a jolly sort he was—brimful of humour tha whole time he was at the wickets, and one of tho very best all-round cricketers in the land. DAVIS’S N.S.W. TEAM. “ There have been several teams from New South Wales in New Zealand and the first one to invade our shores camo hero in 1890. It was under tho management of Coleman Davis, and although not accredited by the New South Wales Association it had a splendid record. In the team were such players as S. Callaway, A. Clarke, J. Oottam, J. Davis (captain), H. Robinson and M’Glinchy._ The team played seven matches, winning six and drawing one. L well remember playing against them in Auckland. Every one of the visitors could bat, in fact tho last man in was just as hard to dispose of us the first. And what a bowling side they were, with S. Callaway, M’Glinchy and A. Newell, three top-notchers. As a social team tho men were among the best who ever travelled New Zealand, and if I could only tell you a quarter of the fun they got up to yon would almost die of laughter, ‘There wore three downright ‘warriors’ among them in S. Callaway, J. Oottam and Robinsc 1 The Aucklanders lay themselves out ' give tho visitors a right royal time, a..,. ; from tho moment of their arrival m the northern city it was. a case of ‘ Set, go,’" and many a good social evening ■,waa spent together. CRACK BOWLER “ BREAKS DOWN.” /I I must relate one of the jokes Which was perpetrated on that tour. It is, I think, about the funniest story I know. Coleman Davis, the manager of tho team, was one of the Chosen People, and very hard when it,camo to parting up any money. It was planned among the mischievous three mentioned that feyd Callaway, being the mainstay of the bowling, was to have a bail back, and then application was to bo made to Coleman Davis for money to

huy a porous plaster with. Tho statement was to ho made that unless the money was forthcoming to get tho plaster Callaway would be unable to play in tho match. .Such an event u<nild have meant a serious effect on the gate takings. IV heu tho manager heard the ease bo replied: ‘ Veil, my poy, you must have von. Vat vill it cost?’ The reply was half-a-crown. this amount was soon confiscated, and byd was able to play in the match as good as gold. MORE PORCIUS PLASTERS. “ But, alas, the strain of tho day’s play was too much, and another appeal had to be made to Mr Davis for enough money to buy a second porous plaster. Coleman remonstrated with Callaway for such extravagance. ‘You vill ruin me!’ ho said. ‘ Veil,’ replied the crack howler, ‘if the plaster is not obtainable I am afraid I cannot play. My back is very bad,’ and ho suited tho action to tho word. ‘ Oh, veil,” gave in the manager, ‘mind this is tho last half-dollar you vill get. I am getting lull iip _in.it desc porous plaster? Tho liquidation of tho second plaster allowance soon took place with duo jubilation. Seeing that there would probably be further requests for porous plasters the manager suggested to Callaway that ho should wear a good, strong bandage instead, and thus help to keep down expenses, but every little while tho strain on tho howler’s back became so great that another plaster had to b© got, and at tho finish of tho tour tho bill for plasters must have been a horrible item on tho manager’s bill. GREAT FISHING. , “ On another occasion we were out fishing in Auckland harbour, and schnapper were very plentiful. The boys thought they would have n bit of fun with Coleman’s father, who was passionately fond of fishing, and while tho old gentleman was away from his lino for a few minutes they placed two extra large schnapper on two of the hooks, and on tho other hook they hooked a schnapper on by tho tail. When tho old chap carao back to his lrne_ everybody was on tenterhooks awaiting the fun. As soon as he took a grip ho saw that there was some weight on, and he became very excited. When be pulled up the sight that met ms gaze almost caused him to take a fiC At last he stammered out, ’Veil, veil, fancy catching tree fishes and von of them by the tail 1’ Of course the news soon got round the ship of the old gentleman’s great fishing feat, and he was highly congratulated on all sides. A MEMORABLE CANTERBURY MIN. iSouth Wales team which vßited New Zealand in 1894 was not officialiy recognised by the authorities of tho Mother State. There had been no iSew Zealand match played during the tour of the first New South Wales team, but tho second team met repre* sentatives of New Zealand. The 1894 team played eight matches, winning Tm ir ’ ? 0S ' Q S one, and drawing three They beat the New Zealand team, but strange to say Canterbury beat them in an ever memorable game by an innings and seven runs. The scores of that great match are well worth reproducing Canterbury. New South Wales, L. A. Culr . , 5 iMlackenslo) , H 60 J. D. Lawrence . 12 Mooro , .49 A. Harman , 2 Co why , < 23 1 H. do 'Vans . 118 Watford , 0 8 A. M. Labatt , 42 Austin . . 31 21 E. V. Palmer . 19 Gould . ] 0 45 A. E. Ridley . 15 E. IS'oblo , 131 ]Q i\ S. Wilding . 29 Scaile . , 13 17 W. Pearce . 54 Davia . . 0 17 J. U. Collins . 26 M.A.Nobla . 6 2 W. Robertson , 1 Miller , ,86 Ihitras ■ , 14 Extras ,9 4 Total , . 331 Totals . 113 206 Bowling Analysis.—Canterbury; Robertson, six wickets for 72 runs and two for 72; Labatt, four for 72, and one for GO; Palmer, threo for 22; Poarcc, three for 23. Now South AValea: Austin; four for 110; Gould, four for CO; Noble, none for 40; Miller, one for 78. AN OFFICIAL TEAM- “ The third Now South Wales team which came here in 1895-6 was the first duly accredited by the New South Wales Association, and Mr J. C. Waine, one of the very best, was manager. The following wore members of the team Burton, Callaway, Cobcroft (captain), Furness, Hume. Noonan, Poidcviii, AValford, Prior, Ridge, Shea and Wade- It was a very fine combination, and their record was five matches played, won 3, lost 1 and 1 drawn. The

lost match was that against New Zealand, played on Lancaster Park, when after a splendid struggle the home team won. The eleven chosen for New Zealand by Mr A. M. Ollivier wag:—R. Blacklock and A. R. Holdship (Wellington), L. A. Cuff, H. De Mans, A. M. Labatt. and W- Robertson (Canterbury), and A. H. Fisher, A. Downes. A. G- Raines and A. Clarke (Otago). EVEN SCORING. "In the first innings of New Zealand Raines played a most stubborn game for 55, not a bad knock for a wicketkeeper, A. M. Labatt made 19 and played real nice cricket. He was a beautiful little batsman to watch Avhen be got going. A. Blacklock mad© 23 in his usual nice neat style, but tho performance of Wally Pearce outshone all. Tho way be set about the bowling when others were making it harder than it really was, was a treat to watch. Wally’s very fine innings terminated with Callaway bowling him with a beauty. Callaway took seven wickets for 77 runs—a really good record. New Zealand made 187. In their first innings New South Wales put together 198, or 11 more than New Zealand—pretty even going, you can see. Poidovin was top scorer with, a well-played 54. Downes, Fisher and ‘ Biffer ’ Pearce shared the bowling honours in this innings. “BIFFER” PEARCE TO THE FORE. “New Zealand’s second innings produced some very fine free batting, and the stand made by L. A. Cuff and Bert De Mans will long ho remen\bered* They must have put on nearly 100 runs when the latter was unluckily run out. Five wickets fell in quick "succession, and then Wallv Pearce once more kept up his reputation as the ‘ Biffer.’ He was ably seconded by Arthur Fisher, and they defied all the efforts of the Welshmen to dislodge them. Their crisp hitting was really grand, and unbounded was tho enthusiasm of tho public, Pearce and Fisher actually saved whac appeared to he a ‘ rot ’ by tbeir free bitting. As a rule, it is a batsman of the stonewalling type who is put in to save such a situation, but it. was not so on this occasion. They made the best stand of the match, putting on no fewer than 110 runs, when ‘Biffer 5 was unfortunately run out after a grand innings of 47. Fisher was unbeaten for a very fine innings of 52 not out, and with Pearce received a great ovation. The innings dosed at 254, which was most creditable. Callaway was again in the forefront among the New South Wales bowlers, taking eight wickets for 98 runs. THE WELSHMEN FAIL. “In the second innings New South Wales wanted 211 to win, but with such a formidable hatting team this seemed easy of accomplishment. Again, however, tho glorious uncertainty of cricket was proved, and the whole teapi wore out for 101, leaving Now' Zealand winners by 142 runs. The splendid bowling of Arthur Fisher, who took five wickets for 20 ruus, had much to do wi,th the success. This only added another to his manv fine achievements as a classy left-hand bowler. The slow bowler, Billy Robertson, ably seconded Fisher with three wickets for 44 runs. I would like to mention that howlers of the calibre of old ‘ Pro ’ Robertson were a wicketkeeper’s delight. A HARD BET TO LOSE. “ There is one amusing incident that has just occurred to me. It took place; when the Lancaster Park Club was changing its colours. Syd Orchard,' upon this momentous occasion made a bet with Archie Ridley that the one who made the highest score in the next cup match should pay for two caps. Ini tho next game Syd hit as he never hit before, and rattled up eighty runs be-, fore he was dismissed. In. returning to the pavilion he passed Archie on) the way in to bat, and the latter remarked, ‘ You’ll have to pay for the caps, Syd I’ and it certainly looked like it, as eighty is some score to beat. But Archie was out in his calculation, for if didn’t hit harder than Syd, he certainly hit longer, and Compiled] the fine score of 120 runs, which caused no end of amusement among the team who were in the joke- Archie lost thei bet of course, but there is some consolation/ left to. the loser in. such a capel when the making of a century has becul the reason. W. V. MILLTON. “I must certainly apologise,” “Johnny” Fowke proceeded, “foil leaving out IV. V. Million in my re-t cital of old United Club members. But as I said before when reminiscing it is very hard to think) of all the old-timers. ‘ W.V. ’ was one of ou!i) noted celebrities in club and representative cricket, and ho was a batsman) who would break the heart of any) bowler in the world. In physique he was a finely-built and one whom yon would expect to be a great hitter.' Instead be was quite the reverse. He hold his bat perfectly straight, scarcely lifting it off the ground, and pushing it forward lit a piece of machinery to every straight ball. All his opponents detested his appearance at the wickets because, as a rule, it was good-bye for the whole afternoon. From a spec* tator’s point of view ho was horrible to watch, but on a. side playing ton 1 keeps ’ he was invaluable. I have seen him defy all the very best of English! bowling for hours and I certainly think for patience there was only one man in the Universe who could ever beat him, (md that was Job. A CHANGE OF TACTICS. “ One time, playing against Otago on the Carisbrook ground, Canterbury Was wanting runs very badly, when Million and Wilding sailed out to do oil die. Wilding was going to knock the cover off the ball, while Million was to follow the usual stonewall tactics, The scheme finished most disastrously, ua Million ran Wilding out very badlyThis upset our equilibrium, but it also put Million fairly on his metric, and to the utter astonishment of all lie let go for all he was worth and played ono of the freest innings it hah ever been; my lot to see. He pulled tbe match out of the fire, and his score of 55 was greatly appreciated, especially by his old comrade Wilding, who frankly forgave him for running him out * and heartily shook him by the baud.” (A further instalment will appear next Tucoday. )